Gibraltar: Telephones

Lord Hardy of Wath: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the use of GSM mobile telephones in Gibraltar is made difficult as a result of the official approach adopted by Spain.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We understand that there is a waiting list for new mobile telephone numbers in Gibraltar due to current shortages of available numbers. The lack of roaming agreements between Spanish and Gibraltar companies means that Gibraltar mobile phone customers cannot use Gibraltar mobile telephones in Spain. We understand that the number of failed international "+350" calls to Gibraltar from countries other than Spain has decreased in recent months. The Government are engaged in detailed discussions with the Spanish authorities aimed at resolving all the problems facing Gibraltar's telephones sector.

Gibraltar: Telephones

Lord Hardy of Wath: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there are still difficulties when telephone contact with Gibraltar is sought using the 350 code.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We understand that there is a waiting list for new mobile telephone numbers in Gibraltar due to current shortages of available numbers. The lack of roaming agreements between Spanish and Gibraltar companies means that Gibraltar mobile phone customers cannot use Gibraltar mobile telephones in Spain. We understand that the number of failed international "+350" calls to Gibraltar from countries other than Spain has decreased in recent months. The Government are engaged in detailed discussions with the Spanish authorities aimed at resolving all the problems facing Gibraltar's telephones sector.

Gibraltar: Diverted Aeroplane

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 14 January (WA 134), whether the aeroplane which was en route to Gibraltar and was diverted to Spain was accepted by the Spanish authorities.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Yes.

UK Passport Applications to the Dublin Embassy

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In respect of passport applications made by United Kingdom residents in the Irish Republic to the Dublin Embassy, what is the average time taken to process the application during each of the last four years; and how many applications were lost.

Baroness Amos: The average time taken by the British Embassy in Dublin to process a properly documented passport application in each of the last four years is two to three working days. This is well within the Citizens' Charter target of five working days.
	The embassy has no statistics for any applications lost in the same period.

Illicit Trade in Cultural Property

Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to make it a criminal offence to import, deal in or possess stolen or illegally removed cultural objects, as proposed in the report of the Working Party on the Illicit Trade in Cultural Property chaired by Professor Norman Palmer; and, if so, when they hope that it may prove feasible to bring it onto the statute book.

Baroness Blackstone: Following the publication of the report of the Illicit Trade Advisory Panel in December 2000, very full and detailed consideration has been given to the proposal for a new criminal offence, i.e: "to the extent it is not covered by existing criminal law, it be a criminal offence dishonestly to import, deal in or be in possession of any cultural object, knowing or believing that the object was stolen, or illegally excavated, or removed from any monument or wreck contrary to local law". Following this consideration, I can announce that the Government can confirm their intention to introduce such an offence as soon as a legislative opportunity is available.

North-west: Grant Aid for Sites of Historic Interest

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many sites of historic interest are receiving grant aid in the north-west of England.

Baroness Blackstone: In this financial year (2001–02), English Heritage has allocated grants to 41 sites of historic interest in the north-west of England. These comprise:
	10 offers of grant aid to historic buildings;
	two offers of grant aid to places of worship;
	29 offers of grant aid to heritage economic regeneration schemes.